Citizen's Public Safety Academy offers inside look

Ariel Cheung.

I love cop shows. "CSI" was my gateway TV as a kid - watching re-runs on Spike was one of my guilty pleasures.

Sure, the crimes are solved as neatly as relationship woes in romantic comedies, but the process involved was what gripped me, which is probably why I jumped at the chance to participate in the Appleton Citizen's Public Safety Academy this fall.

As an Appleton newcomer and a breaking news reporter, it was a no-brainer to attend. For the past two months, I joined about 10 others who also wanted to peek behind the curtain of law enforcement.

"There's nothing like this hands-on experience," Appleton Police Chief Peter Helein told the academy graduates Tuesday. "Being on a call or hearing about it first-hand from the officers gives you a different level of insight."

We learned the difference between a fire truck and an engine, and I quickly discovered I never will be a firefighter, as I had trouble just lifting the hefty Jaws of Life - forget about operating them.